so , GP'S have not been sending patients for hospital treatment

[weas]

we all must write to our MP, I have also written to the health minister we cannot give GP'S the budget to pay with, they have shown they cannot be trusted.

[jackthehat]

What...........none !?!
For anything...........!?!

That'll save the NHS a packet !

[weas]

very funny !! jackthehat as long as its not you,

[jackthehat]

Perhaps you could cool your temper and explain who is not doing what ?

[milly143]

Do you have some evidence to support this?

[Sqad]

Interesting point weas......I agree, the GP´s do not refer often or quickly enough, but one must remember, that if they did, the hospitals couldn´t cope, si with that in mind the GP´s tend to "hold back". Survival rates for most cancers, mainly breast, are one of the lowest in the Western Countries, many reasons for this, but slow, late referral by GP:s is, in my opinion, a major factor.

[weas]

does nobody watch the news?

[Postdog]

Who says? in the last year I have been sent 3 times.

[jackthehat]

Yes.
Do you know where Fred is ?

[boxtops]

weas, you have the wrong end of the stick, I'm afraid.
At the moment, Primary Care Trusts commission the services of the hospitals and pay them for what they do for patients, so that the GPs can refer patients to the hospitals. A few months back, the PCTs were told by the Department of Health to save millions before 31 March, and one hugh saving that could be made was by asking the GPs in their area not to refer non-urgent cases to hospital before financial year end. This was common knowledge, it was certainly in our local papers. Urgent cases still got seen.
When the GP consortia have their own budgets for commissioning hospital services in future, THEN it'll be their responsibility - not at the moment. The fact they couldn't refer people for the last six months is all down to PCT funding, not them being trusted with the funding for the services.

[anneasquith]

i think weas is just back from her gp. and maybe feeling a bit stressed,

[weas]

but the point is , that if a patient felt they needed hospital treatment, the GP could refuse to refer, and use delays ,such as physio ,just to delay the referral . as many cases have been highlighted

[Sqad]

boxtops.....I agree entirely and this is one of the problems of "Socialised Medicine. Some six weeks ago I had dinner with an American who was in the UK on business and he told me that one of the concerns with the Obama Medicare, was what would happen if the money ran out and would there be rationing. He had many concerns, but that one was of interest to this thread.

[weas]

there are some very rude and unintelligent people on here ,

[anneasquith]

weas, i wasnt being rude. just pointing to some maybe not the right time to be sarcastic to you !

[boxtops]

//if the patient felt// - the treatment is unfortunately not entirely down to the patient, the GP has to consider cost as well as clinical effectiveness. Every year between Christmas and March, NHS funds have been tight - this time it was a nightmare. My employer was told they had to save millions each month. Hospital referrals were just one aspect, we lost dozens of staff last week by redundancy.

[weas]

anneasquith not long since you were asking for prayers, for cadiac outcome, funny you may of met me there. think before writing unkind comments ,

[boxtops]

There are other people answering your thread, weas.....

[weas]

I give up , its a childs playground on here ,

[boxtops]

weas - if you don't like the answers.... I work in a primary care trust, I have tried to give you an honest answer.

[cazzz1975]

do you have a link to the article?